Sea turtles must dive to considerable depths in search of food, yet their bodies are designed so as not to trap harmful gases during descent.
Diets of turtle species vary significantly. Hawksbills live in coral reef environments and are carnivorous eaters of sponges; green turtle hatchlings consume both sea grasses and algae for sustenance.
Leatherbacks
Leatherback turtles are the world’s largest marine reptile, featuring a spindle-shaped body with wide, flat carapace (shell) that can flex more freely than other sea turtles’ shells. Leatherbacks boast the longest range of any marine reptile species – traveling up to 5,950 miles between breeding beaches and feeding grounds in open ocean. Their diet consists of jellyfish, tunicates, squid, fish, crustaceans and floating seaweed as their food sources.
These fish have no teeth and a throat with spinelike elements called papillae that allow them to grab and cut soft-bodied creatures they eat, including Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish whose poisonous nematocysts may harm humans. Their jaws are so powerful they can even pierce through this species with deadly poisonous nematocysts (stinging organs).
Adult hawksbill, olive ridley and Kemp’s ridley species are carnivorous birds that feed on crabs, conchs, whelks, clams and horseshoe crabs; as well as algae, mollusks and some plant material. Hatchlings from these species have narrow “bird-like” beaks to reach into crevices on coral reefs for food sources.
Green sea turtles tend to forage within seagrass beds and nearshore habitats at their breeding grounds, while loggerheads and leatherbacks are true deep-ocean divers, diving to greater depths than 3,000 feet to find food sources such as jellyfish, squid, fish, algae, and seaweed. Their oxygen stores are immense while their heart rates have drastically been slowed in order to conserve this resource.
Even with their exceptional diving capabilities, these magnificent sea turtles are severely threatened. Nearly all nests are attacked by predators from land and sea. Female sea turtles lay an average of 100 eggs; only a fraction survive to become adults and become adults. Furthermore, sea turtles are vulnerable to being caught in shrimp fishing nets, fishing nets used for shrimp fishing, as well as marine pollution such as plastic bags mistaken for jellyfish that contributes to marine pollution; such threats have contributed to a worldwide decrease in their numbers.
Flatbacks
This species of sea turtle remains one of the least-studied. However, its diet and life pattern make it stand out from others in its group. A carnivorous feeder that prefers soft-bodied marine invertebrates such as jellyfish, mollusks and sea pens; also consuming crustaceans as well as aquatic plants such as algae and sea grasses as food sources; found around Australia including Pacific islands.
Flatbacks’ diets are adaptable and adapt to their environment well. They eat anything that will provide essential nutrition, while avoiding large animals that might pose health threats or would compromise their wellbeing.
As they live in salt water environments, their diet can often contain high salt content. To combat this high salt intake in their food sources, saltwater fish possess glands which remove excess sodium from their bodies; these glands can be found on their tongues, nostrils or even at the corners of their eyes.
Although a flatback’s jaws may not be razor-sharp, they still feature two pointed cusps on either side that allow them to easily pierce and swallow soft-bodied creatures they hunt. Their throat and mouth cavity is lined with spine-like projections known as papillae that help them catch prey more efficiently.
This turtle breeds during November and December on beaches and sand dunes along Australia’s northeast coast, typically nesting four times per season and hatching their eggs 47-58 days later. Unfortunately, their population has dramatically declined and they’re considered endangered, threatened by coastal development, pollution and excessive fisheries; their nests may also be predated upon by feral pigs, who are known to devour entire nests in one trampled devouring session! Furthermore, oil spills pose another danger as chemicals can penetrate their tissues causing them harm before premature illness or even death, passing on this chemical exposure through to their offspring – even more so since the chemicals pass down generations too!
Greens
The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) can be found worldwide, both tropical and subtropical waters. With its large body size and long tail, the green sea turtle stands out among aquatic environments due to its distinctive appearance. Its shell contains smooth plates ranging from light olive brown to dark olive brown in hue. Males are larger than females with longer tails sticking out of their shell; additionally the costal plate closest to their heads has darker spots than other plates. These turtles feed on marine vegetation such as seagrasses and macroalgae; however it also feed on carnivorous invertebrata such as jellyfishes for sustenance if necessary.
Green sea turtles graze on grasses and algae found in shallow coastal ocean environments, helping keep these vital marine ecosystems healthy. Similar to gardeners, their digestive systems digest seagrasses to promote new growth. Green sea turtles also graze beaches where their presence helps stabilize dunes by moving dead seagrasses that would otherwise be washed away by waves – another vital function.
As hatchlings, this species is omnivorous; eating marine invertebrates found both within its nesting area and pelagic zone. At age 5, however, they begin focusing on seagrass as their sole food source and will consume only this plant type as adults.
At night, green turtles use their shell as natural armor against predators. Although they cannot pull their arms and legs into their shell like hinged doors would do, their jaws can snap shut to stun predators and prevent attacks from predators. Furthermore, green turtles have two glands near their eyes that remove excess salt from the water.
Pet green turtles should receive a diet rich in both animal proteins and leafy vegetables. There are a range of animal-based pet foods, such as trout chow and turtle pellets as well as canned goods like drained sardines that you can give to them; or alternatively you could feed live prey such as earthworms, crickets, prawns or feeder fish to ensure quality and safety for their consumption. When purchasing or raising these insects from reliable pet stores or raising them yourself you should do this to ensure quality and safety and the best outcomes!
Loggerheads
As adults, loggerheads are carnivorous; their massive heads and heavy jaws allow them to crush hard-shelled prey with ease. As hatchlings and juveniles however, loggerheads become omnivorous – their diet includes snails, clams, oysters, mussels, jellyfish, coral algae and sea grass invertebrates as well as fish, shrimp and crabs as food sources.
Food preferences of turtles often change depending on where they migrate during their lifetimes, with one species feeding on sponges while another might prefer sea urchins from Hawaiian kelp forests. Their beaks and jaws allow these turtles to reach into crevices where their target prey lurks.
The open ocean presents more challenging conditions for these turtles, yet they have developed special adaptations to help them adapt. Their wide mouths can take in large catches of fish and other animals they swallow whole; their sharp cusps on both sides of their jaws allow them to puncture soft-bodied organisms like jellyfish. Furthermore, papillae (skin-like projections) line their esophages and help digest jellyfish efficiently.
Fully mature loggerhead turtles typically only face attacks from large marine animals such as sharks and seals; their size prevents attacks from terrestrial organisms like dogs, cats, raccoons, birds, opossums and pigs. As eggs or nestlings, however, loggerheads are vulnerable to terrestrial threats like dogs, cats, raccoons, birds, opossums and pigs.
As they travel the ocean, loggerheads can seek refuge from predators by hiding in mangrove swamps. Furthermore, these species enjoy meeting other marine life such as dolphins and whales along their journey.
Loggerhead turtles will often return to the same beach where they hatched in order to lay their own eggs – known as their “natal beach”. If conditions allow, these turtles may even continue nesting there for life!
These turtles possess an extraordinary ability to return to the beaches where they were first hatched even if it has been decades since they last visited. Female loggerheads imprint magnetic signatures from their birth beaches on their shells so that when it comes time for mating season they can find their way back home easily.